This week’s most relevant crypto stories in Latin America highlight how digital assets are moving from speculation to everyday use.
On one hand, Bitcoin-powered travel is gaining ground in El Salvador with the expansion of Airbtc, a booking platform built exclusively for BTC users and already showing strong local adoption.
On the other hand, Argentina’s older adults are leading the region’s growth in digital wallet usage, proving that crypto and fintech adoption are accelerating across generations.
Furthermore, Bitget Wallet ended 2025 with increased on-chain activity in trading, payments, and yield products, demonstrating that self-custodial wallets are becoming mainstream financial instruments rather than niche solutions for cryptocurrency traders.
Together, these developments underscore a clear trend: crypto in LATAM is increasingly about real-world utility, inclusion, and economic transformation.
Airbtc is a Bitcoin-only platform that is redefining travel
Airbtc is a global booking platform where consumers can only pay with Bitcoin (BTC).
The business, which launched in August 2024, operates similarly to Airbnb but is developed by and for bitcoiners.
According to cofounder Jake Seifert, the platform already features properties across more than a dozen countries, with a strong presence in El Salvador.
Destinations include El Zonte, San Salvador, Santa Ana, Berlín, Costa del Sol, and Punta Mango.
Airbtc intends to improve the circular Bitcoin economy by making it easier for visitors to spend BTC in real-world circumstances.
Airbtc presents itself as a decentralised alternative to existing booking platforms by eliminating financial intermediaries and charging lower prices.
Guests can save up to 8%, and hosts can save up to 18% compared to services like Airbnb or Booking.com.
Payments are held in cold storage until the stay is complete, after which they are released to hosts in BTC, either on-chain or over the Lightning Network.
El Salvador accounts for around 15% of Airbtc’s global inventory, making it one of the biggest concentrations by nation, showing increased local interest in taking Bitcoin and the country’s favourable legislative climate for Bitcoin-focused enterprises.
Seniors drive digital wallet adoption in Argentina
Today, 3.3 million Argentinians over the age of 60, or 42% of the population, use a virtual wallet to access digital payments, transfers, and basic savings features.
The data was published by the Argentine Fintech Chamber on December 29, citing Central Bank records that show retirees had the highest increase in digital payments and transfers over the previous year.
While overall virtual wallet ownership increased by 13% between June 2024 and June 2025, use among those over 60 increased by 29.7%, more than doubling the norm.
This growth suggests a deliberate transition rather than a gradual adoption.
Older folks are increasingly using digital wallets for better convenience, security, and access to yields, reducing their need for currency.
According to Invecq, seniors who use virtual wallets make up to 80% fewer cash withdrawals than those who just use bank accounts, contributing to a general decrease in cash usage across the economy.
Beyond payments, wallets have become an important savings tool: 42% of retirees transfer funds to earn returns, and many advocate for the ability to collect and manage pensions in an increasingly digitised financial system.
Bitget Wallet sees 2025 on-chain activity signal shift toward everyday crypto finance
Bitget Wallet finished 2025 with increased on-chain activity in trading, payments, and yield products, indicating that self-custodial wallets are becoming mainstream financial instruments rather than specialist goods for crypto traders.
The data show a gradual shift in user behaviour as adoption expanded beyond early, trading-focused audiences and into more ordinary financial use.
The findings are based on internal data described in a press release sent to Invezz, which shows how wallet usage continued to rise even as broader crypto market activity slowed near the end of the year.
The pattern indicates a gradual decoupling between market sentiment and real-world cryptocurrency usage, notably in areas related to payments and stablecoin-based activity.
Trading activity on the blockchain increased significantly throughout 2025.
Bitget Wallet’s monthly swap trading volume surpassed $900 million, representing a 232% increase over the previous year.
Users increasingly depended on decentralised exchange routing to gain access to a wider range of assets across various blockchains, demonstrating a rising demand for on-chain liquidity and execution.
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